Miniature connector

ABSTRACT

Pin contact, of a miniature connector, made as a stamping from a single piece, having a pair of cantilever contact elements together forming a pin member.

United States Patent r 13,ss1,272

Inventors Appl. No

Filed Patented Assignee Robert S. Yopp Naperville;

Melvin G. Kraft, Bellwood, Ill. 786,189

Dec. 23, 1968 May 25, 197 1 The Bunker-Roma Corporation Oak Brook, Ill.

MINIATURE CONNECTOR 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl

Int. Cl Field of Search.

[5 6] References 'Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,376,735 5/1921 Stalhaneet al. 3,238,497 3/1966 Zell et a1 FOREIGN PATENTS 319,837 10/1929 GreatBritain Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant ExaminerJoseph H.McGlynn Attorney-Paul H. Gallagher ABSTRACT: Pin contact, of a miniatureconnector, made as a stamping from a single piece, having a pair ofcantilever contact elements together forming a pin member.

MINIATURE CONNECTOR OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to a miniature connector of the kind having a pin contact and asocket contact and is directed particularly to the pin contact componentof such connector.

A broad object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensivepin contact having flexing contact elements and made as a stamping froma single piece of metal.

Another object is to provide a pin contact of the character justreferred to in which the contact elements are of cantilever form andthereby possess increased flexibility, resulting in more effectivecontact engagement with the socket contact.

Another object is to provide a pin contact having a pin member with aneffective point of electrical contact engagement adjacent its outer end,which thereby increases the range of effective mating with thecounterpart socket contact.

Still another object is to provide a pin contact having a pin membermade up of a pair of contact elements having effectively overlappingelements at their extreme outer ends forming a novel form of tapered tipeffective for improving mating pickup.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In the drawings;FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a pin contact made according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view from a 90 angle relative to that ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view taken at line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken at line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the pin contact, oriented accord ing to FIG.1, and its relation to a socket contact and in initial position inmating the contacts; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but with the contacts interconnected,but not fully into their final position.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the pin contact of the invention isindicated at It), and a socket contact with which it is associated isshown fragmentarily at 12. As will be understood by those skilled in theart, a plurality of pin contacts are incorporated in a connector plugand a similar number of socket contacts are incorporated in acounterpart connector plug, and upon connecting the plugs together, thepin contacts enter into the socket contacts, in a known manner.

The pin contact I0 of the invention is made as a stamping, as by a punchpress operation, from a single piece of metal, or blank, and all of theelements thereof are accordingly integral, the stamped piece beingformed into a generally tubular member which forms the pin contact. Thispin contact includes a body portion 14 preferably round in crosssection, and a pin portion or member 16. The body portion 14 is utilizedfor securing the pin contact to a conductor (not shown) in the usualmanner, as by crimping, soldering etc. In the stamping and shapingoperation, the body portion I4 is left with a longitudinal parting line18 on one side.

The pin portion or member 16 is made up of a pair of contact elements 20extending longitudinally from the body portion and specifically fromopposed elements of the body portion on opposite sides of the partingline 18. The contact elements 20 extend in cantilever, free floatingfashion from the end of the body member, and are cylindrical or arcuatein cross section, similarly to the arcuate shape of the body member atthe points ofjuncture therewith. The contact elements 20 are the same orsymmetrical and at their outer ends are provided with generally inwardlyinclined elements 22 disposed at acute angle to the direction ofthe mainparts 23 of the contact elements. They are relatively offsetdiametrically, or angularly, as shown in FIG. 3, and each extendsradially inwardly beyond the longitudinal centerline of the pin contact,and thus they at least partially overlap. The curvature of the contactelements 20 about that longitudinal centerline, is carried forwardly andinto the inclined elements 22 so that the latter are also curved aboutthat longitudinal line, but they may be relatively straight in thedirection of the angle referred to. The inclined elements 22 form highpoints 24 at the juncture of those elements with the main parts 23,forming main points of electrical engagement with the socket contact.These points, it will be noted, are closely adjacent the outer orextended end of the pin member as will be referred to again hereinbelow.

The contact elements 20 are self biased radially outwardly away fromeach other, the resulting outward movement taking place mostpronouncedly in the outer ends, the movement of the contact elementsthus being effectively about transverse axes at the points ofjuncturewith the body portion 14. In their normal unrestrained position, theydiverge outwardly.

While the tips of the inclined elements 22 overlap, this overlappingrelation need not be complete, and due to the normal thickness of theelements, the overlap may be formed by the inner points thereof, andeven if a slight Vshaped notch may be left as indicated at 26, this isnegligible from the standpoint of effectiveness of the overlap forinserting the pin member I6 into the socket contact. The socket contact12 includes a sleeve or contact proper 28 incorporated into the plugreferred to above and here identified at 30, which is secured to aconductor (not shown) in the usual way. The sleeve may have an outwardlytapered, or slight bell-shaped, entrance end 32. The end of the sleeve28 is preferably spaced from the end of the socket contact 30 and thelatter is provided with a chamfered or conical entrance surface 33,which with the surface 32 form a somewhatcontinuous, although two-step,leadin surface for guiding the pin contact into the socket contact.

In inserting the pin contact into the socket contact the pin contact ispositioned as represented in FIG. 5 and then moved into the socketcontact. Usually the pin member 16 is well aligned with the sleeve orsocket, but it may be slightly misaligned as shown in FIG. 5, asindicated by the relative displacement between the centerline 34 of thesocket contact and the centerline 36 of the pin contact. If it is soslightly misaligned, one or the other of the inclined elements 22engages the edge of the contact sleeve and the respective contactelement 20 is moved radially inwardly toward the other, and if all ofthe pin contacts in the connector are accurately spaced, all of themwould be slightly offset as represented in FIG. 5, and the movement ofthe corresponding contact elements 20 of all of the contact memberswould have the effect of moving or shifting the complete connector, toalign all the pin members with the contact sleeves. However if it shouldhappen that less than all the contact members 16 are slightlymisaligned, the corresponding contact elements 20 themselves would befixed so that the pin members 16 would be easily inserted into thesleeves. The transversely rounded shape of the contact elements 20 alsoassists in aligning them with the sleeves.

In the inserting operation, the inclined elements 22 of course firstengage the end of the inner surface of the sleeve, or if slightlymisaligned, one of them engages one side of the surface 33, and thesleeve rides up the inclined elements until the high points 24themselves engage the inner surface of the sleeve 28. These high pointsare closely adjacent the outer end of the pin member, as referred to,and upon a very slight entry of the pin member into the sleeve, full andeffective contact engagement is established between these high pointsand the surface of the sleeve, it not being necessary for full-lengthinsertion of the pin member into the sleeve for effective electricalengagement therebetween. This contact engagement continues throughoutthe full movement of insertion of the pin member into the sleeve whichis the greater part of the length of the pin member, thereby increasingthe electrical mating range, this range being of course the full lengthof the pin member from the points 24 to the juncture of the contactelements 20 with the body, or possibly slightly therebeyond. The contactelements 20 may be shaped so that the contact engagement between the pinmember 16 and the sleeve 28 remains at the points 24 with the contactelements 20 being slightly diverging outwardly even in fully connectedposition, or they may be shaped .and proportioned so that together theyform a cylinder when in connected position as represented in FIG. 6, sothat the contact engagement between the pin member and the sleeveextends substantially throughout the pin member.

The effective overlap of the inclined elements 22 prevents any snaggingor catching of the contact elements with the outer end edge of thesleeve, resulting in effective entry of the pin member into the sleeve.

Dueto the offset relation of the inclined elements 22, neitherinterferes with the inward movement of the other upon inward flexing ormovement of the contact element. The cantilever mounting of the contactelements provides greater flexibility thereof, with consequent moreeffective electrical engagement with the sleeve. The pin contact beingmade from a single integral piece results in an extremely simple devicewhich is correspondingly inexpensive, and this is in extreme contrast topin contacts heretofore made which were most often made of threeindividual elements secured together. The construction renders itpracticable to utilize a simple, uniform and fixed socket contactsleeve, with added economy.

We claim:

1. A pin, contact of the character disclosed including a stampingproviding a single integral piece incorporating the elements andrelationships recited hereinafter, the pin contact being of overallgenerally tubular shape, and including a body portion generally round incross section and having a longitudinal parting line at one side, a pairof cantilever contact elements together forming a pin member extendinglongitudinally from the body portion, the contact elements togetherbeing of substantially less circumferential extent than the bodyportion, and extending from opposed elements of the body portion onopposite sides of the parting line, the contact elements being generallycylindrical in cross section, the contact elements being generallycylindrical in cross section, the contact elements being self biasedoutwardly to a position in which they diverge outwardly, and havinginturned inclined elements at their outer ends, the inclined elementsbeing of a length substantially less than the overall length of thecontact elements thereby forming high points for electrical engagementclosely adjacent the outer ends of the contact elements, the inclinedelements being disposed at an acute angle to the main portion of thecontact elements and extending toward each other but being offset fromeach other angularly of the device and their inner ends effectivelyoverlapping in radial direction, forming a tapered tip at the outer endof the pin member effective for camming the pin-member into a socketfrom a position slightly misaligned therefrom.

2. A pin contact according to claim 1 in conjunction with a contactsleeve of uniform cylindrical and fixed construction.

3. A pin contact including an elongated body portion and a pair ofcantilever contact elements free of connection to each other extendinglongitudinally from the body portion, the contact elements togetherforming a pin member and being independently self-biased radially apart,and normally spaced apart and movable toward and from each othereffectively about transverse axes at their inner ends at their points ofconnection with the body portion, the contact elements at their extendedends having inwardly inclined elements together forming a tapered point,and forming high points for electrical engagement adjacent thereto, theinclined elements being short relative to the overall length of thecontact elements and the high points being thereby positioned closelyadjacent the extended ends of the pin member, and the inclined elementseffectively overlapping each other considered diametrically of the pinmember but being offset angularly whereby to enable free inward movementof the outer ends of the contact elements toward each othersubstantially without reference from each other.

4. A pin contact having a longitudinal axis and including an elongatedbody portion and a pair of cantilever contact elements free ofconnection to each other extending longitudinally from the body portionand being independently selfbiased radially apart at their extendedends, and also at their extended ends having elements inclined towardeach other and forming a tapered point, said elements being relativelyoffset circumferentially and overlapping in radial direction, theinterfacing surfaces of said elements being disposed closely adjacent adiametrical line whereby to enable said elements to effectively bypasseach other in generally radially inward movements in response tocontracting movements of the contact elements in radial direction, andthereby eliminate positive stop therebetween and enable maximum suchmovement of the said elements and'corresponding contracting movements ofthe contact elements.

5. A pin contact according to claim 4 wherein the contact elements attheir extended ends adjacent the inclined portions thereof are curved incircumferential direction about the central longitudinal axis of the pincontact.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 581272', Dated May 25 1971 R Inventor(s) obert S PP et 1 It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet [73] "The Bunker-Romo Corporation" should read lheBunkerRamo Corporation Column 3, lines 36 and 37, cancel "the contactelements being generally cylindrical in cross section,". Column 4, line24, "reference' should read interference Signed and sealed this 2nd dayof May 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. A pin contact of the character disclosed including a stampingproviding a single integral piece incorporating the elements andrelationships recited hereinafter, the pin contact being of overallgenerally tubular shape, and including a body portion generally round incross section and having a longitudinal parting line at one side, a pairof cantilever contact elements together forming a pin member extendinglongitudinally from the body portion, the contact elements togetherbeing of substantially less circumferential extent than the bodyportion, and extending from opposed elements of the body portion onopposite sides of the parting line, the contact elements being generallycylindrical in cross section, the contact elements being generallycylindrical in cross section, the contact elements being self biasedoutwardly to a position in which they diverge outwardly, and havinginturned inclined elements at their outer ends, the inclined elementsbeing of a length substantially less than the overall length of thecontact elements thereby forming high points for electrical engagementclosely adjacent the outer ends of the contact elements, the inclinedelements being disposed at an acute angle to the main portion of thecontact elements and extending toward each other but being offset fromeach other angularly of the device and their inner ends effectivelyoverlapping in radial direction, forming a tapered tip at the outer endof the pin member effective for camming the pin member into a socketfrom a position slightly misaligned therefrom.
 2. A pin contactaccording to claim 1 in conjunction with a contact sleeve of uniformcylindrical and fixed construction.
 3. A pin contact including anelongated body portion and a pair of cantilever cOntact elements free ofconnection to each other extending longitudinally from the body portion,the contact elements together forming a pin member and beingindependently self-biased radially apart, and normally spaced apart andmovable toward and from each other effectively about transverse axes attheir inner ends at their points of connection with the body portion,the contact elements at their extended ends having inwardly inclinedelements together forming a tapered point, and forming high points forelectrical engagement adjacent thereto, the inclined elements beingshort relative to the overall length of the contact elements and thehigh points being thereby positioned closely adjacent the extended endsof the pin member, and the inclined elements effectively overlappingeach other considered diametrically of the pin member but being offsetangularly whereby to enable free inward movement of the outer ends ofthe contact elements toward each other substantially without referencefrom each other.
 4. A pin contact having a longitudinal axis andincluding an elongated body portion and a pair of cantilever contactelements free of connection to each other extending longitudinally fromthe body portion and being independently self-biased radially apart attheir extended ends, and also at their extended ends having elementsinclined toward each other and forming a tapered point, said elementsbeing relatively offset circumferentially and overlapping in radialdirection, the interfacing surfaces of said elements being disposedclosely adjacent a diametrical line whereby to enable said elements toeffectively bypass each other in generally radially inward movements inresponse to contracting movements of the contact elements in radialdirection, and thereby eliminate positive stop therebetween and enablemaximum such movement of the said elements and corresponding contractingmovements of the contact elements.
 5. A pin contact according to claim 4wherein the contact elements at their extended ends adjacent theinclined portions thereof are curved in circumferential direction aboutthe central longitudinal axis of the pin contact.